The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 30, 2006
Filed:
Dec. 17, 2003
Kenneth A. Epstein, St. Paul, MN (US);
Leland R. Whitney, St. Paul, MN (US);
Charles D. Hoyle, Stillwater, MN (US);
Wade D. Kretman, Afton, MN (US);
Kenneth A. Epstein, St. Paul, MN (US);
Leland R. Whitney, St. Paul, MN (US);
Charles D. Hoyle, Stillwater, MN (US);
Wade D. Kretman, Afton, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St, Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
An illumination system includes a light guide for distributing light. Extraction structures are provided to uniformly extract light from the light guide. The structures extract more light out of the light guide when light is propagating in the light guide in a direction toward the light input area than when light is propagating in the light guide in a direction away from the light input area.